It’s too bad, because some of the questions (and answers) of the presidential candidates were far more important than the propaganda from a terrorist who wants Israel and America wiped off the map. Questions like that of Rabbi Aryeh Spero of the Jewish Action Alliance:

There is no question that jihadists have as their goal the harming of America and its citizens. What would your strategy be to protect our streets, our people and our American way of life from the dangerous explosive growth of radical Islam in America and around the world?

By the way, Rabbi Spero, on my radio program yesterday, added a comment about the Columbia University invitation as well: “This is not a free speech issue; this is a disgrace. There has not been a man like this since Hitler calling for the destruction of the Jewish people. … He should not be allowed on the soil of the United States.”

Forty pro-family groups that participated in the first ever Values Voter Presidential Debate in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last Monday are still looking for answers from the four candidates who had “something more important to do” than to answer questions from mainstream America. Bar graphs charting the pre-and post-debate vote, featured at www.ValuesVoterDebate.com, show a striking decline for the four “no-show” candidates whose questions are still unanswered.

Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel and member of the Values Voter Debate host committee, said, “Avoiding the debate and failure to answer the issues that are of concern to Values Voters is not the way to the White House.” He’s right.

By the way, Mat’s still waiting for the answer to his question for Sen. Fred Thompson – as well as those asked of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain. Those questions (below) can also be seen on YouTube.

Teresa Ippoliti, abortion survivor – RUDY GIULIANI

My name is Teresa Ippoliti. Eighteen years ago, an abortionist was hired to kill me, but I survived. I was wrapped in newspaper and tossed on a shelf struggling for my life. Nuns came and rescued me, took me to a hospital where I stayed for two months. I was then adopted by my heroic mom and dad. Mayor Giuliani, your position on abortion would have left me dead. Now that you see me, Mr. Giuliani, do you honesty still believe an abortionist had a right to kill me?

Peter Labarbera, Americans for Truth – MITT ROMNEY

Governor Romney, you are running as a pro-life, pro-marriage candidate, but you have a history of being strongly pro-abortion on demand and pro-homosexual. You supported Roe v. Wade and said abortion should be “safe and legal.” In 2002, you opposed a state constitutional amendment to stop homosexual “marriage” in Massachusetts. You said homosexuals should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts, and as governor, you officially celebrated “Gay Youth Pride Day.” You sat on Marriot’s Board for 10 years while it sold pornographic, in-room videos. Why should voters trust you after you spent so much of your career aggressively promoting anti-life and anti-family positions? I understand a “change of heart,” but a “change of position” on life, marriage, gun control, pornography, immigration all preceding your run for president?

Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel – FRED THOMPSON

While you were a senator, you opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment. Recently you stated you would support a marriage amendment that would prevent judges from imposing same-sex marriage so long as it would not prohibit state legislatures from adopting same-sex marriage. This reasoning is like saying you favor a constitutional amendment that prohibits judges from imposing slavery so long as state legislatures were free to do so. Does not your position fundamentally misunderstand the universal importance of marriage in the same way my latter example about slavery indicates a misunderstanding of human dignity?

Janet Folger, Faith2Action – JOHN MCCAIN

I was troubled by the lawsuit you and other members of Congress filed against Wisconsin Right to Life for airing radio and television ads to encourage the public to lobby their senators to oppose the filibuster of judicial candidates. While, thankfully, they won the lawsuit, was it really your goal to gag and prevent groups from being involved in the legislative process during the “no free speech zones” 60 days before a general election and 30 days before a primary as your Campaign Finance Reform Law required?

While you can’t see it on the networks, you can order copies of the Values Voter Debate DVD to inform your friends, family, neighbors and church at www.ValuesVoterDebate.com. Also see the latest data from the delegate straw poll (including the winner!) and video streaming of the entire debate. Audio streaming is available at www.VCYAmerica.org.

Thanks to the hundreds who sent in questions. Available as a pdf document are the answers from the “speed round” yes/no questions. Green indicates a “yes” answer and “red” indicates a “no” response.